Judge Lets Eminem-Associated Music Publisher Continue $109 Million Meta Music Licensing Lawsuit

A judge has declined to dismiss a lawsuit filed by a music publisher associated with Eminem that seeks more than $109 million over allegations of unlicensed use of the publisher’s music in Meta Platforms’ services. The court ruling means the litigation can continue, instead of being thrown out at an early stage through a motion to dismiss.

According to Billboard, the case targets the use of more than 200 songs within Meta’s music libraries on Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. The plaintiff’s theory, as described in the reporting, is that the music was made available through those platforms without the licensing payments the publisher contends were required.

The dispute is now in a posture where the lawsuit will proceed to further stages of litigation, which typically include additional pleadings, fact development, and, depending on the claims and defenses, possible discovery and motions that address issues such as what rights were implicated, what licensing or permissions were in place, and what damages, if any, may be recoverable.

Meta’s platforms reach large numbers of users, and the alleged conduct involves songs made available inside features tied to the platforms’ music libraries. If the publisher’s claims are ultimately sustained, the case could require changes to how music is licensed and how rights holders are compensated across those services. Conversely, if Meta’s defenses prevail later in the case, the publisher would not recover the requested damages.

The ruling does not establish liability on the merits. A denial of a motion to dismiss generally indicates only that the court believes the complaint’s allegations are sufficient, at least for purposes of moving past the initial procedural threshold, to warrant further litigation. The next steps are expected to focus on contested factual questions and legal issues raised by both sides.

The lawsuit also reflects the continuing friction between large platforms and music rights holders over licensing terms and platform distribution. For content creators and publishing entities, these cases often determine not only whether damages may be recovered, but also what compliance expectations will apply going forward to music catalogs integrated into major social and messaging ecosystems.